PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - CLAIRE M.A. LEBLANC
AU  - BIANCA LANG
AU  - ALMA BENCIVENGA
AU  - ANNE-LAURE CHETAILLE
AU  - PAUL DANCEY
AU  - PETER DENT
AU  - PAIVI MIETTUNEN
AU  - KIEM OEN
AU  - ALAN ROSENBERG
AU  - JOHANNES ROTH
AU  - ROSIE SCUCCIMARRI
AU  - SHIRLEY M.L. TSE
AU  - SUSANNE BENSELER
AU  - DAVID A. CABRAL
AU  - SARAH CAMPILLO
AU  - GAËLLE CHÉDEVILLE
AU  - CIARAN M. DUFFY
AU  - KAREN WATANABE DUFFY
AU  - ELIE HADDAD
AU  - ADAM M. HUBER
AU  - RONALD LAXER
AU  - DEBORAH LEVY
AU  - NICOLE JOHNSON
AU  - SUZANNE RAMSEY
AU  - NATALIE SHIFF
AU  - HEINRIKE SCHMELING
AU  - RAYFEL SCHNEIDER
AU  - ELIZABETH STRINGER
AU  - RAE S.M. YEUNG
AU  - LORI B. TUCKER
TI  - Access to Biologic Therapies in Canada for Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.120089
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1875--1879
VI  - 39
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/9/1875.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/39/9/1875.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2012 Sep 01; 39
AB  - Objective. To compare access to biologic therapies for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) across Canada, and to identify differences in provincial regulations and criteria for access. Methods. Between June and August 2010, we compiled the provincial guidelines for reimbursement of biologic drugs for children with JIA and conducted a multicenter Canada-wide survey of pediatric rheumatologists to determine their experience with accessing biologic therapies for their patients. Results. There were significant difficulties accessing biologic treatments other than etanercept and abatacept for children. There were large discrepancies in the access criteria and coverage of biologic agents across provinces, notably with age restrictions for younger children. Conclusion. Canadian children with JIA may not receive optimal internationally recognized “standard” care because pediatric coverage for biologic drugs through provincial formularies is limited and inconsistent across the country. There is urgent need for public policy to improve access to biologic therapies for these children to ensure optimal short-term and longterm health outcomes.